Foot-bath attachment for bath-tubs



(No Model.)

C. H. STEPHENSON. .FOGT BATH ATTACHMENT FOR BATH TUBS.

110'. 501,301, Patented July 11, 1893..

'NVEINTIIIRI UNITE 'rn'rns -ATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES HENRY STEPHENSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOT-BATH ATTACHMENT FOR BATH-TUB-S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.501,304, dated July 11,1893.

Application filed July 6,1892. Serial No. 439,177. (No model.) I

TO aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HENRY STE- PHENSON, of Lynn, in the countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Foot-Bath Attachments for Bath-Tubs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a small portable bath tubof suitable size for foot bathing purposes, having means whereby it maybe detachably connected with the usual waste pipe or outlet of a fixedbath tub, and supported in said fixed tub in position to receive waterfrom the usual faucets with which the fixed tub is provided; myinvention constituting an attachment which may be placed in a bath tuband receive a small quantity of water and discharge the same withoutwetting the interior surface of the fixed tub.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a top view of a fixed bathtub and a portable bathtub embodying my invention inserted in the fixed tub. Fig. 2 representsa partial side elevation and partial longitudinal section of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents an end view, showingcertain modifications, the fixed tub being shown in section.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a small portable tub a ofsuitable size for foot washing purposes and formed to be inserted in anordinary fixed bath tub b. The portable tub ais provided at or near oneend with a waste or outlet pipe 0, the lower end of which is formed tobe detachably connected with the waste outlet 01 of the fixed tub. Theoutlet pipe 0 may be of any suitable construction and may be eitherpermanently connected with the portable tub or detachable therefrom, andit may be of either rigid or flexible construction, and when flexible itpreferably will be made of a section of rubber tubing having at its endssuitable fittings for engagement with the tub or and with the wasteoutlet (1. When the pipe 0 is of rigid construction it may constitute asupport for the tub a, holding the latter at a suitable height above thebottom of th'e*fixed tub I). I prefer to provide the tub a with othermeans of support such as upwardly projecting arms 6 6, having at theirupper ends outwardly projecting ears 6' 6 formed to bear upon the upperedges of the sides of the tub I). Said ears may be covered with soft oryielding material such as rubber, to prevent indentation of the portionsof the tub I) or of its casing on which they bear.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I show the armse eas parts of a yoke comprising saidarms and ears and a cross bar e extending across the bottom of the tub aand connecting the arms e e. In this case the bottom of the tub a may beprovided with sockets a a to receive the cross bar 6 the sides of thetub a being provided with sockets a a to receive the arms e. In Fig. 3the arms e e are independent of each other and may be pivotallyconnected at e e to cars a a attached to the sides of the tub a.

When the outlet pipe 0 is rigid it serves as a support for the tub a;the supporting devices above described are preferably located near theopposite end of the tub from that to which the pipe 0 is connected. Whenthe pipe 0 is made flexible so that it cannot support the tub a, thesupporting devices will preferably be otherwise arranged and there willpreferably be supporting devices similar to those above described at ornear each end of the tub a.

I do not limit myself to the employment of supporting devices adapted tobear only on the upper edges of the sides of the fixed tub and mayemploy downwardly projecting supporting devices adapted to bear on thebottom of the fixed tub.

In Fig. 3 I show the tub a provided with downwardly projecting legs orsupports e e formed to bear upon the interior of the tub. Said legs orsupports 9 will preferably be provided with elastic bufiers or cushionsto prevent indentations of the bottom of the tub.

ff represent cushions or bufiers of, elastic material, such as rubber,attached to the sides of the tub a and arranged to bear upon the sidesof the fixed tub; said buffers serving to prevent the sidewise movementof the portable tub a within the fixed tub and to pre- Vent indentationof the sides of the fixed tub by the portable tub. V

It will be seen that when the tub a is connected by the waste pipe 0with the waste outlet (I of the fixed tub, the portable tub is inposition to receive water from the usual faucets t I: of the fixed tub,and that the water received by the tub a may be discharged through thepipe 0 and waste outlet at without coming in contact with the interiorof the fixed tub. Hence the tub a can be used to all intents andpurposes as an ordinary bath tub without the necessity of employing alarge quantity of Water. My improvement therefore constitutes aconvenient bath tub attachment particularly adapted for foot washingpurposes and adapted to be readily removed from the fixed tub to permitthe ordinary use of the latter, and is readily applied so thatit canreceive and discharge water.

The portable tub Ct has a stopper a to close the outlet pipe 0.

j represents a seat which may be placed upon the fixed tub for theconvenience of the user of the tub a; said seat is preferably secured tothe tub by means of pins or dowels j affixed to the seat and formed toengage sooketsj formed in the casing surrounding the tub I), there beinga series of orifices 7' so that the seat can be adjusted toward and fromthe tub a.

1. A portable foot bath tub, provided with a waste or outlet pipe formedto be detachably connected with the waste outlet of a fixed bath tub,and having upwardly projecting arms provided with ears for engaging theupper edges of the sides of the tub, as set forth.

2. A portable bath tub provided with a waste or out-let pipe formed tobe detachably connected with the waste outlet of a fixed bath tub andhaving arms extending upward therefrom to engage the upper edges of thesides of the tub, the said portable tub having also external buffers orcushions arranged to bear upon the inner surface of the fixed tub, asset forth.

3. A portable foot bath tub, provided with a Waste or outlet pipe formedto be detachably connected with the waste outlet of a fixed bath tub,said outlet constituting a support holding one end of the portable tubat a suitable height above the bottom of the fixed tub, the saidportable tub having additional supports at its opposite end, for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination with a fixed bath tub, of a portable foot bath tubprovided with a waste or outlet pipe forming a support for one end ofthe portable tub and detachably connected with the lower waste outlet ofthe fixed tub, and additional supports at the opposite end of theportable tub, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 2d day of July, A. D. 1892.

CHARLES HENRY STEPHENSON.

Witnesses:

T. F. LEMP, J, BARRATT.

